Top 4 Feature Match: Jessy Samek versus Austyn Ruoff

November 9th, 2015

SJC Philadelphia 2007 winner Jessy Samek has managed to make it to the Top 4 of this modern era tournament. Fittingly, him and his opponent will be doing with the most futuristic Deck available: Kozmo. While Samek uses some cool tech cards like Escape from the Dark Dimension and Moon Mirror Shield, his opponent Austyn Ruoff has access to Kozmo DOG Fighter in his list which isn’t exactly standard. Only one of them can make it to the final for a shot at the YCS San Jose title, which will it be?

Ruoff won the roll and chose for Samek to go first.

Duel One:

Samek opened with a hand containing two copis of Kozmotown, Bottomless Trap Hole, Vanity’s Emptiness, and Kozmo Dark Destroyer. He activated a Kozmotown and shuffled back Kozmo Dark Destroyer to draw a Fiendish Chain before he Set everything but the other Field Spell and ended.

Ruoff started off with Upstart Goblin to draw a card and grant Samek 1000 Life Points. Ruoff Normal Summoned Kozmo Strawman and declared a direct attack, then still in Battle Phase activated its effect to Special Summon Kozmo Dark Destroyer. He tried to activate the effect of Kozmo Dark Destroyer but Samek responded to it with Bottomless Trap Hole to banish it. Ruoff tried to continue pressure with Emergency Teleport, but Samek had Vanity’s Emptiness to stop it. Ruoff moved to Main Phase 2 and activated Kozmotown, using it to add back Kozmo Dark Destroyer at the cost of 800 Life Points. He then activated the other effect of Kozmotown to shuffle bacak the Kozmo Dark Destroyer and draw a fresh card before he Set a back row and ended.

Samek drew Kozmo Dark Destroyer and activated the effect of his Kozmotown to shuffle it back and draw Kozmoll Wickedwitch. He Normal Summoned it and declared a direct attack for 1900 before he ended.

Ruoff drew and announced his phases; he Normal Summoned Kozmo Goodwitch and tried to use its effect to shift the position of Kozmoll Wickedwitch but Samek responded with Fiendish Chain to make sure that didn’t happen. Ruoff proceeded by adding back his banished Kozmo Strawman with Kozmotown, and then shuffling it bacak to draw another card. He thought for a minute but ultimately ended without any further actions.

Samek drew Skill Drain and Set it. He clarified how many cards Ruoff had in hand, three, and then ended.

Ruoff drew and activated the effect of Kozmotown to shuffle back Kozmo Farmgirl to draw another card, which he Set before he ended.

Samek drew Honest, not the best given that his Kozmoll Wickedwitch was on the DARK side. He considered Setting it for a moment but opted to end instead.

Ruoff drew and passed his turn back.

Samek found a copy of Moon Mirror Shield on top of his Deck. He chose to end rather than commit anything else to the Field.

Ruoff drew and activated Allure of Darkness to draw two and banish Kozmo Dark Destroyer. He then added it back thanks to Kozmotown before he played an Upstart Goblin to draw another card and grant Samek another 1000 Life Points. Ruoff took a long moment to consider making a push but just chose to pass instead.

Samek drew Kozmo Forerunner for turn and activated the effect of his Kozmotown to shuffle it back and draw Kozmo Farmgirl. He Normal Summoned the Kozmo Farmgirl and proceeded to equip it with Moon Mirror Shield! He declared an attack with Kozmo Farmgirl over the Kozmo Goodwitch and triggered its effect to add Kozmo Dark Destroyer. This caused his Vanity’s Emptiness to self-destruct because the Fiendish Chain was attached to the Kozmo Goodwitch. When Samek tried to attack with his Kozmoll Wickedwitch, Ruoff Flipped his Set Emergency Teleport to Special Summon his own copy of Kozmo Farmgirl which meant Samek would need to call off his attack. He then activated the effect of his Kozmo Farmgirl to Special Summon Kozmo Dark Destroyer from his hand and activated its effect to destroy itself so he could Special Summon Kozmo Sliprider. The Kozmo Sliprider triggered and Samek tried to destroy his opponent’s back row, but Ruoff responded with Traptrix Nightmare Trap Hole to destroy it. Samek triggered the Kozmo Sliprider and Special Summoned Kozmo Farmgirl. He declared an attack with it on Ruoff’s Kozmo Farmgirl with his own. During the Damage Step Ruoff tried to use Honest so his Kozmo Farmgirl would win the battle, but Samek let it resolve and used his own to make sure he won the fight! The Kozmo Farmgirl triggered and let him add Kozmo Forerunner to his hand, then he activated the effect of Kozmoll Wickedwitch and Special Summoned it which was enough damage to win the game!

After patiently sitting behind a key Vanity’s Emptiness, Samek navigated a skillful turn to finish the Duel. Can Ruoff win the back two?

Ruoff chose to go second once again.

Duel Two:

Samek started with a hand of Vanity’s Emptiness, Mystical Space Typhoon, Torrential Tribute, Kozmo Sliprider, and Reasoning. He slammed down Reasoning and Ruoff called Level 4 but Samek had Kozmo Dark Destroyer waiting on the top of his Deck! The giant spaceship hit play and Samek Set all of his Spells and Traps before he ended.

Ruoff activated Kozmotown and shuffled back four different Kozmo Monsters to draw 4 new cards. He Normal Summoned Kozmoll Wickedwitch and Set a back row before he ended.

Samek drew Kozmo Goodwitch for turn and then decided to activate his Set Mystical Space Typhoon to blow away Ruoff’s back row, but got punished as Ruoff had a Mystical Space Typhoon of his own lying in wait. Ruoff Chained it and destroyed Samek’s Set Vanity’s Emptiness. Samek activated the effect of his Kozmo Goodwitch but Ruoff responded with Kozmoll Wickedwitch to Special Summon Kozmo DOG Fighter. Samek was forced to end.

Ruoff drew and the effect of his Kozmo DOG Fighter activated to Special Summon a token. He then activated the effect of Kozmotown to add back his Kozmoll Wickedwitch at the cost of 400 Life Points before he Normal Summoned it. He moved to Battle Phase and declared an attack on Kozmo Goodwitch, prompting Samek to respond with its effect to Special Summon Kozmo Sliprider from his hand. Ruoff continued by activating the effect of Kozmoll Wickedwitch to Special Summon Kozmo Forerunner to run over the Kozmo Sliprider, which then triggered so Samek could Special Summon Kozmo Strawman.

Samek drew Escape from the Dark Dimension for turn and both Duelists clarified Life Points as ‘kozdg triggered to Special Summon another token. He activated the effect of Kozmo Strawman to Special Summon Kozmo Sliprider, but Ruoff responded with Maxx “C” to make sure Samek couldn’t go too crazy. Samek declared an attack with Kozmo Dark Destroyer over a token and then Set Escape from the Dark Dimension. During the End Phase his Kozmo Sliprider was destroyed and he decided to trigger it to Special Summon Kozmoll Wickedwitch, letting Ruoff draw another card from Maxx “C”.

Ruoff drew and activated the effect of both Kozmo DOG Fighter and Kozmo Sliprider to gain 1000 Life Points and Summon another token. He then activated the effect of Kozmotown to add back Kozmoll Wickedwitch and then shuffled it along another Kozmo back to his Deck to draw two cards. He then tributed both of his tokens for Kozmo Dark Destroyer and then used its effect to destroy Kozmo Strawman before he went to Battle Phase. He declared an attack into Samek’s Kozmo Dark Destroyer and they both crashed which triggered them both. Samek Special Summoned Kozmo Forerunner in Defense Mode and Ruoff Special Summoned Kozmo Sliprider which triggered to destroy Samek’s Set Escape from the Dark Dimension. Ruoff then declared an attack with his Kozmo Sliprider over Samek’s Kozmo Forerunner so Samek got to Special Summon a Kozmo Sliprider. Ruoff declared an attack with Kozmo Sliprider on Kozmoll Wickedwitch , but Samek paid 1000 Life Points to keep it around. Ruoff Set a back row and ended.

Samek drew Kozmo Dark Destroyer for turn and declared an attack with Kozmo Sliprider on his opponents, but Ruoff activated Maxx “C”! Both of the Monsters triggered and Samek Special Summoned Kozmo Strawman while Ruoff Special Summoned Kozmoll Wickedwitch. He declared an attack on the Kozmoll Wickedwitch with his Kozmo Strawman but Ruoff paid 1000 to keep his alive. Samek then paid 500 Life Points to Special Summon Kozmo Goodwitch from his banished and then overlayed it with his Kozmoll Wickedwitch for Abyss Dweller before he ended.

Ruoff drew for turn and the effects of his Kozmo DOG Fighter and Kozmo Sliprider triggered to get him another token as well as gain 1000 Life Points. He switched his Kozmoll Wickedwitch along with a token to Attack Position then moved to Battle Phase which prompted Samek to activate the effect of Abyss Dweller. Then, Samek activated the effect of Kozmo Strawman to banish itself and Special Summon Kozmo Dark Destroyer from his hand. He triggered the effect of Kozmo Dark Destroyer and then responded with Torrential Tribute! The whole Field was wiped away and Samek got to Special Summon Kozmo Sliprider thanks to Kozmo Dark Destroyer. The Kozmo Sliprider triggered and Samek blew away Ruoff’s Kozmotown. However Ruoff still had a ton of cards and because Samek was so far behind, he chose to concede to have a better chance at winning the last Duel!

After opting to not Mystical Space Typhoon during the End Phase of Ruoff’s first turn, things snowball out of control for Samek. Things were getting tense as the Duelists moved onto the final match.

Samek chose to go second.

Duel Three:

Ruoff started off with Allure of Darkness to draw two cards and banish Kozmo DOG Fighter. He Set four cards to his back row and ended.

Samek had a hand of Kozmo Sliprider, Kozmo Strawman, Kozmo Farmgirl, Reasoning, and Cyber Dragon Core before he drew Emergency Teleport. He activated Reasoning and Ruoff called Level 4 which led to Samek milling a Bottomless Trap Hole and hitting a Kozmo Farmgirl. He moved to Battle Phase and declared an attack, but Guoff Flipped his Set Emergency Teleport to Special Summon Kozmo Farmgirl from his Deck to halt the offense. Samek moved to Main Phase 2 and Set his Emergency Teleport, but when he tried to end Ruoff used Mystical Space Typhoon to blow it away. Fortunately for Samek, Ruoff didn’t have a Kozmo in hand to Special Summon with Kozmo Farmgirl.

Ruoff drew and simply tried to pass, but Samek used the effect of Kozmo Farmgirl during the End Phase to Special Summon Kozmo Sliprider. Ruoff responded with Maxx “C” to draw a card, but Samek still got to blow away a Set Debunk.

Samek drew a second copy of Kozmo Farmgirl and Normal Summoned it before he moved to Battle Phase. He declared an attack to trigger its effect and add Kozmo Dark Destroyer to his hand. He then swung in with Kozmo Sliprider for even more damage, putting his opponent down to 4200. Still during the Battle Phase he activated the effect of Kozmo Dark Destroyer to destroy off his Kozmo Sliprider, but when he tried to trigger it Ruoff had a second copy of Debunk to stop it. Samek still got to swing with Kozmo Dark Destroyer though to put Ruoff down to 1200 Life Points before he ended.

Ruoff drew to three cards and Normal Summoned Kozmo Strawman before he used its effect to Special Summon Kozmo DOG Fighter at the cost of 500 Life Points leaving him with only 700 remaining. He banished Kozmo Strawman next to Special Summon Kozmo Dark Destroyer and used it to destroy his Kozmo DOG Fighter, which then triggered so he could Special Summon Kozmo Sliprider. He moved to Battle Phase and declared an attack with Kozmo Sliprider on Kozmo Dark Destroyer with Honest to make sure he won the battle. Kozmo Dark Destroyer triggered and Samek Special Summoned Kozmo Forerunner from his Deck, but now with no cards in Ruoff’s hand, Samek showed Ruoff that he had Cyber Dragon Core to contact for Chimeratech Fortress Dragon and win the match!

And that was it! Thanks to a super strong opening backed up by Cyber Dragon Core, Jessy Samek defeats Austyn Ruoff to move onto the finals of YCS San Jose!